voyages.”
“What hast thou then in thy mind? Wilt thou woo thee a wife?”
“That I will,” says he, “if I could only get myself well
matched.”
Then Thorarin told off all the women who were unwedded in
Borgarfirth, and asked him if he would have any of these, “Say
the word, and I will ride with thee!”
But Glum answered, “I will have none of these.”
“Say then the name of her thou wishest to have,” says Thorarin.
Glum answered, “If thou must know, her name is Hallgerda, and she
is Hauskuld’s daughter away west in the dales.”
“Well,” says Thorarin, “‘tis not with thee as the saw says, `be
warned by another’s woe’; for she was wedded to a man, and she
plotted his death.”
Glum said, “Maybe such ill-luck will not befall her a second
time, and sure I am she will not plot my death. But now, if thou
wilt show me any honour, ride along with me to woo her.”
Thorarin said, “There’s no good striving against it, for what
must be is sure to happen.” Glum often talked the matter over
with Thorarin, but he put it off a long time. At last it came
about that they gathered men together and rode off ten in
company, west to the dales, and came to Hauskuldstede. Hauskuld
gave them a hearty welcome, and they stayed there that night.
But early next morning, Hauskuld sends for Hrut, and he came
thither at once: and Hauskuld was out of doors when he rode into
the “town”. Then Hauskuld told Hrut what men had come thither.
“What may it be they want?” asked Hrut.
“As yet,” says Hauskuld, “they have not let out to me that they
have any business.”
“Still,” says Hrut, “their business must be with thee. They will
ask the hand of thy daughter, Hallgerda. If they do, what answer
wilt thou make?”
“What dost thou advise me to say?” says Hauskuld.
“Thou shalt answer well,” says Hrut; “but still make a clean
breast of all the good and all the ill thou knowest of the
woman.”
But while the brothers were talking thus, out came the guests.
Hauskuld greeted them well, and Hrut bade both Thorarin and his
brothers good morning. After that they all began to talk, and
Thorarin said, “I am come hither, Hauskuld, with my brother Glum
on this errand, to ask for Hallgerda thy daughter, at the hand of
my brother Glum. Thou must know that he is a man of worth.”
“I know well,” says Hauskuld, “that ye are both of you powerful
and worthy men; but I must tell you right out, that I chose a
husband for her before, and that turned out most unluckily for
us.”
Thorarin answered, “We will not let that stand in the way of the
bargain; for one oath shall not become all oaths, and this may
prove to be a good match, though that turned out ill; besides
